| Posted on January 15, 2012 at 4:10 AM |
Your Siberian cat is a healthy weight if...
• Ribs are easily felt (Siberians are solid, well muscled cats and should NOT have visible ribs. Ribs can be felt under a healthy and flexible coat, and beneath a strong layer of muscle).
• Tucked abdomen — no sagging stomach. Many Siberians have a "pouched" belly. This is NOT a sign of being over weight. An overweight Siberian's stomach will be "full" and extended. A "pouch" droops slightly, allowing for gorging if food is plentiful.
• Waist thinner than chest when viewed from above (Siberians tend to be evenly weighted throughout their tosos. This pet weight measurement is more relevant to canines. Be sure to be aware of this so that your Vet doesn't inadvertently tell you your healthy Siberian is "fat."
On the other hand... you know your Siberian is overweight when...
• It’s *very* difficult to feel ribs under fat
• Protruding stomach: Stomach feels "Stuffed" all the time.
• Wide back side to side.
• No waist (remember - waist is much more minimal in the Siberian cat than in the Maine Coon or Siamese).
Why Would a Siberian Cat become overweight?
> Lack of exercise
> Overeating due to boredom
> Poor quality foods
> Too many commercial treats.
When talking about food related weight issues in felines, Dr Louise Murry, DMV shares that "Cats are different, they become overweight not from treats, but because their diet is too high in carbohydrates. Cats are nature’s pure carnivores,” she says. “They were never meant to eat carbohydrates. Their bodies are not designed to handle them at all. Unfortunately, a lot of the cat foods on the market are high in carbs, especially dry foods. It’s easy for us to leave a bowl out all day, but then they’re snacking on carbohydrates all day.”
Categories: Feeding, Health & Disease, Care Practices